Attorney General Greg Abbott, the Republican favored in the race to succeed Gov. Rick Perry, sketched out a policy package Monday that includes increasing the governor’s power over spending.
Abbott, in his “Working Texans” plan, said he would like to expand the governor’s line-item veto power. This would be a constitutional amendment that would allow a governor to reduce a spending item, rather than having to choose between letting it be implemented or cutting its funds entirely.

The Legislature could override a reduction with a two-thirds vote.
The proposal was among several in the plan that would require amending the state constitution, which would need a two-thirds vote of lawmakers and Texans’ approval on a statewide ballot.

His other proposals to amend the constitution would:
--Limit the growth of the state budget to population growth, plus inflation.
--Restrict the rainy day fund’s use to covering unforeseen shortfalls in revenue, debt reduction, one-time infrastructure payments and expenses related to state disasters.
--Make sure taxes and fees are used for their intended purpose or assessment is eliminated, rather than allowing billions to be left unspent to balance the budget as currently happens. Plus, a constitutional amendment to keep these so-called dedicated accounts from being used to balance the budget.
--Dedicate part of the motor vehicle sales tax to road construction and maintenance.
--Prohibit the Legislature from putting additional requirements on local governments unless the mandates are accompanied by funding to pay for them.
--Bar accounts dedicated to a particular purpose from being used instead to help balance the budget.